Razorbacks Softball Doubles Up Tennessee-Martin

Hogs Sweep Weekend Set With Back-To-Back Wins

The University of Arkansas softball team won back-to-back games against the University of Tennessee-Martin to improve its overall record to 22-19 on the season. The Skyhawks fall to 30-15 for their 2012 campaign.

In the first game of the doubleheader, UT-Martin threatened early in the top of the first when they placed a runner on third after a walk and a single up the middle. Good defensive work by the Arkansas infield held the Skyhawks not allowing a run to come home.

The Razorbacks placed the first run on the board in the bottom of the first when Amanda Geile hit a ball down the left field line bringing home Devon Wallace who was placed on base by a walk. Jennifer Rambo placed the ball to the left-center field wall for a double bringing Geile home and giving Arkansas to 2-0 lead.

The Skyhawks went on a hitting spree in the top of the second, bringing home four runs off of four hits, including two doubles.

Arkansas answered in the bottom of the inning beginning with a single up the middle from Jayme Gee. Chloe Oprzedek brought Gee home with a double out to the left-center field wall. Maddie Reese hit an almost perfect bunt bringing home Oprzedek. Reese was called out when she was caught between first and second. Wallace got base for the second time of the game with a single, followed by double from Clarisa Navarro to left-center field advancing Wallace to third. Wallace was tagged out attempting to advance home. At the end of the second Arkansas had tied the game 4-4.

Kimmy Beasley was perfect from the circle in the top of fourth and fifth striking out all six batters. Beasley recorded a career high of nine strikeouts in a single game in 5.1 innings.

"Kimmy was very dominant in the circle today," said head coach Mike Larabee. "She put us on her shoulders and really carried the team today."

Wallace recorded her second hit of the day when she hit the center field wall to collect a double. Navarro grabbed her second hit of the day bringing home Ashley Martindale, who was pinch running for Wallace. Geile also recorded her second hit of the day bring in Navarro for to give the Razorbacks the 6-4 lead.

UT-Martin was unable to respond giving the Razorbacks the 6-4 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Skyhawks came out in the second game taking the lead in the top of the first with a two-run home run from Jenny Bain. UT-Martin threatened again in the top of the second placing a runner in scoring position, but Beasley pitched the Razorbacks safely out of the inning.

Arkansas recorded its first hit of the second game when Oprzedek hit a single up the middle in the bottom of the third.

Backing Beasley, the Razorbacks defense was solid grabbing 21 putouts and six assists in game two. Arkansas forced the Skyhawks to go three up and three down in both the fourth and fifth innings.

"We played really solid defense today," said Larabee. "We challenged the team to come in and play at a higher level defensively and they really stepped up to that challenge."

Tori Mort got the Razorbacks going in the bottom of the fourth after she hit a bunt for a base hit. She advanced to second after Andrea Sullivan was walked, placing two runners on base. No runners were brought home that inning keeping the score 2-0, in favor of UT-Martin.

Oprzedek put the Razorbacks on the board in the bottom of the fifth when she hit a two-run bomb over the left-centerfield wall to tie the game at two all. Navarro gave the Razorbacks the 3-2 lead when she hit her seventh home run of the season over the left-centerfield wall.

Arkansas threatened again in the bottom of the sixth when Rambo and Sierra Bronkey both collected singles and were advanced off of a sacrifice but from Gee. Oprzedek, who was perfect at the plate in the second game, hit a single to bring in Rambo and add to the Razorbacks lead.

The Skyhawks were unable to place a runner on base in the seventh inning giving Arkansas the 4-2 victory.

The Razorbacks are back in action on Tuesday at 5 p.m. when they host UMKC for a single-game mid-week matchup. There will be a live blog and live stats available at ArkansasRazorbacks.com. For more information regarding Razorback softball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.